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Intellectual disability (ID) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by cognitive delays. Inborn errors of metabolism constitute an important subgroup of ID for which various treatments options are available. We aimed to identify potential biomarkers of inherited metabolic disorders from the children with ID using tandem mass spectrometry and develop a novel machine learning algorithm to differentiate between the cases and the controls. All of the cases were having IQ score <70, gross motor delay, speech disorder and no recognizable symptoms of the condition. Metabolite profiling of ID individuals exhibited low tyrosine/large neutral amino acids, high citrulline/arginine ratios; elevated proline, alanine, phenylalanine, and ornithine, while a significant decrease in the level of amino acid arginine, and elevated C4 (butyrylcarnitine) and C4OH/C3DC (3-hydroxybutyrylcarnitine/malonylcarnitine). Machine learning algorithm differentiated cases and controls efficiently using specific thresholds of ornithine, arginine and C4OH/C3DC. Furthermore, ID cases were distinguished into mild, moderate, and severe based on specific thresholds of methionine, arginine, and C5OH/C4DC (3-hydroxyisovalerylcarnitine/methylmalonylcarnitine). The machine learning algorithm could successfully identify specific metabolite markers in ID and correlate the same with neurological features.

This paper presents modeling, simulation and analysis of heat transfer and fluid flow in the tapered receiver used in solar cycloidal concentrating system which is a novel concept. The main objective of this paper is to analyze performance of solar cycloidal concentrating system by utilizing novel concept of tapered receiver for enhancement of system efficiency. This solar cycloidal concentrating system is used for testing purpose from Jan 20-April 20 in Pune city, India. The calibrated device Pyranometer is used to provide values of solar irradiance. Readings are taken daily after each one hour for the whole day. Modeling of the tapered receiver tube which is novelty of this research is done using SOLIDWORKS software. The governing equations of fluid flow and heat transfer in the system are solved by using ANSYS-CFX CFD software. The obtained results show efficiency increment and rise in temperature. Experimental results and analysis using software shows that using novel concept of tapered receiver, there is noticeable decrement in thermal losses as there is decrement in the area of receiver from inlet to outlet of receiver tube and hence increase in the efficiency is observed. The tapered receiver is designed in such a way that, the entire receiver tube of 20 feet is cut into a separate 20 pieces. Each piece is having 304.80 mm in long. Total 20 pieces are separately designed for manufacturing of taper receiver. For each piece cut of 0.9 mm from inlet to outlet is taken for OD as well as for ID using CNC machine. Tapered receiver was manufactured by using various operations which includes MS rod cutting, machining, welding, arrangement for sensor fitting at said location and end nozzles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyze the relationship between first-trimester levels of pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) neonates and preterm births, and to assess predictive utility for these events.Methods: A prospective study was conducted among women undergoing first-trimester screening between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2013, at two centers in Pune, India. Serum PAPP-A levels, pregnancy course, and outcome were assessed.Results: Overall, 1474 women were included. An association was found between the lowest quintile of PAPP-A levels (<0.4 multiples of median) for both SGA (<10th centile; 20.9% of cases in this PAPP-A quintile) and preterm birth (<37weeks; 15.8%). Women in the lowest quintile of PAPP-A concentration had a significantly increased risk of SGA (<10th centile) than did those with higher concentrations (adjusted odds ratio 2.92, 95% confidence interval 2.00-4.27). Their risk of preterm birth (<37weeks) was also increased (adjusted odds ratio 1.84, 95% confidence interval 1.25-2.72). The predictive sensitivities of the lowest quintile of PAPP-A were 35.85% for SGA (<10th centile) and 27.92% for preterm birth (<37weeks).Conclusion: Low levels of PAPP-A were associated with SGA and preterm births; however, poor predictive sensitivity could restrict clinical utility of this marker when used alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) species diversity and their root colonization patterns may vary in a plant species as influenced by soil environmental and biological factors. In the present study, sugarcane rhizospheric soils were collected from 41 main sugarcane producing tehsil places belonging to 10 districts from Maharashtra, India. Rhizospheric soil samples and roots were analyzed for spore density, relative abundance and frequency of AM spores at genus as well as at species level, extent of AM colonization in roots and various soil chemical properties. Soil sample from Jalgaon district possessed maximum spore density and AM root colonization. Genus Glomus exhibited highest relative abundance with maximum frequency of 32.55%. Species wise, Glomus fasciculatum possessed highest relative abundance and maximum frequency was observed in case of Glomus fasciculatum, Glomus intraradices, Glomus mosseae and Glomus versiforme. Maximum similarity of AM spores was recorded between Satara and Sangli districts which may be because of almost similar soil pH profile. Data obtained after cluster analysis represented the close relationship between spore density, AM root colonization and soil Cu, Zn and Fe concentrations. A statistically significant positive correlation was also found when AM spore density and root colonization was compared with soil Cu, Zn and Fe contents. This kind of data can be used to predict type of AM fungi to be used as bioinoculant in particular region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: Intestinal tuberculosis needs to be considered in the differential diagnosis when patients with intestinal pathology are encountered. Tuberculosis can mimic other disease entities like, ischemic enteritis, inflammatory bowel diseases, malignancies, intussusception etc., clinically as well as morphologically in resected intestinal specimens. We aimed to study the various clinical presentations leading to intestinal resection, with identification of different etiological factors by histopathological examination; and to illustrate, discuss and describe the various histopathological features of the lesions in these resected intestinal specimens with clinicopathological correlation. Materials and Methods: We studied 100 cases of resected intestinal specimens received during September 2002 to December 2003. We totally encountered 22 request forms with clinical suspicion of ileoceocal tuberculosis. Results: Abdominal tenderness and mass in ileoceocal region were noted in all cases. In many instances, the cases were operated for acute/subacute intestinal obstruction. Clinical and intra-operative diagnoses of tubercular enteritis, in many instances, were finally diagnosed histopathologically as ischemic enteritis (nine cases), chronic nonspecific enteritis (four cases), adenocarcinoma of the caecum, Crohn's disease, intussusception (each one case), and correctly as intestinal tuberculosis in only six cases. Conclusion: Tuberculosis can mimic various disease entities, clinically and sometimes morphologically. Vice versa is also true. An increased awareness of intestinal tuberculosis coupled with varied clinical presentations, nonspecific signs and symptoms, difficulties in diagnostic methods and need of early and specific treatment should improve the outcome for patients with this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to investigate chemical profile, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Indian Melifera propolis (IMP) samples collected from 13 different states. Chemical characterisation of ethanolic extracts of IMP (EEMP) samples was carried out by using HPLC and 1 HNMR spectroscopy. The antioxidant activity of EEMP samples was measured by DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assay. Moreover, the antimicrobial activity of each EEMP sample tested against bacteria and yeast using a 96 well plate microdilution method. All EEMP samples had remarkable antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The antioxidant potential of EEMP samples found to have a moderate positive correlation with their total phenolics and flavonoids content. Majority of EEMP samples had a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ≤ 1 mg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus . Chemometric analysis of 1 HNMR data indicated that brown, green, green-brown, red and red-brown coloured IMP samples were chemically distinct from each other, and showed two separate clusters for northern and southern states propolis samples. HPLC analysis confirmed phenethyl caffeate was most common and abundant compound in IMP samples among studied compounds. In conclusion, this study may be helpful for defining the quality of IMP as a raw material, and also in finished food and health care products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Asymptomatic Indian lacto vegetarians, who make up more than half of the Indian population in different geographic regions, have distinctly low vitamin B-12 concentrations than non- vegetarians. Vegetarians consume milk but it seems that the amount is not enough to improve vitamin B-12 status or vitamin B-12 concentration in milk itself may be low. The aim of this study was to determine if daily milk consumption can improve vitamin B-12 status., Methods: Fifteen male and 36 female, young healthy post-graduate volunteers participated. Blood from ten participants (4 males and 6 females) was collected (day-1). They continued their regular diet for next fourteen days and on day-15, blood of all 51 participants was collected, plasma vitamin B-12 concentration was measured and were divided into two groups; Normal (vitamin B-12 >148 pmol/L, n = 22) and Vitamin B-12 deficient (<148 pmol/L, n = 29), the remaining plasma was stored. All participants consumed 600 ml. of non-enriched buffalo milk (200 × 3) during the day along with their usual diet. Next day blood was collected for plasma holotranscobalamin II measurement. Subjects from deficient group continued to drink 400 ml of milk daily for next 14 days and blood was collected on day-30. Plasma holotranscoabalamin II (day-1, 15, 16, 30), vitamin B-12, folate, total homocysteine, creatinine and hematoloical parameters (day-1, 15, 30), and milk vitamin B-12 concentrations (day-15, 16, 30) were measured., Results: Fifty seven per cent of the participants were vitamin B-12 deficient and 65% were hyperhomocysteinemic. No significant difference in biomarkers was observed when there was no intervention. Plasma holotranscobalamin II concentration increased from 19.6 to 22.27 pmol/L (p < 0.0001) 24 hrs after milk load in the whole group. Plasma vitamin B-12 increased from 92.5 to 122 pmol/L and tHcy concentrations decreased from 31.9 to 24.9 μ mol/L (p < 0.0001 for both) 14 days after regular milk intake in vitamin B-12 deficient subjects., Conclusions: Regular intake of milk improved vitamin B-12 status of vitamin B-12 deficient vegetarians indicating a potential dietary strategy to improve the vitamin status.

Background and Purpose: Folate and vitamin B12 are essential components in the metabolism of homocysteine (Hcy). Hyperhomocysteinemia has been implicated in endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disease. However, the association of Hcy, vitamin B12, and folic acid with cardiovascular risk factors in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) has not been studied in Indian patients. This study was conducted with the aim to evaluate the relationship of vitamin B12, folic acid, and Hcy levels with cardiovascular risk factors in subjects with known CAD., Methods and Subjects: Three hundred patients (216 men; 84 women; aged 25-92 years) who had CAD on angiography were included in this study consecutively. All patients were evaluated for anthropometry and cardiovascular risk factors, and blood samples were collected for biochemical, nutritional, and inflammatory markers., Results: Percentage of vitamin B12 and folate deficiency was 86.7% and 2.7%, respectively. Hyperhomocysteinemia was present in 95.3% patients. Vitamin B12 levels were significantly lower and Hcy levels were significantly higher in subjects with dyslipidemia, DM, and/or hypertension. Serum vitamin B12 was inversely associated with triglyceride and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and positively with high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Hcy was positively associated with triglyceride and VLDL and negatively with HDL. Vitamin B12 was inversely correlated with inflammatory markers (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and interleukin-6) directly related to insulin resistance whereas Hcy showed the opposite pattern., Conclusions: Serum vitamin B12 deficiency and hyperhomocysteinemia are related with cardiovascular risk factors in Indian patients with CAD., (Copyright © 2013 Japanese College of Cardiology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)